My father used to recite this to us when we were kids. I never knew where it came from either.It's a little different version:

And so we met...I, being the accused, chose my rusty, dusty, trusty pistol.At dawn we paced... one, two, three!We turned, he shot, I fired, he fell.I strolled to a nearby tavern."A drink" I cried, "for I have just killed a man.""Killed a man? What was his name?""Zanzibar.""Zanzibar! He was my brother!"And so we met...

"I have killed a man!" said I. "Who?" said he. "Zanzibar!" "What? My brother? We shall meet!" The next day outside the gates of Paris, upon the Field of Honor, we met. I drew my rusty, trusty pistol. "Bang Bang" shot I. He lay dead at my feet. Nonchalantly, I walked inside a nearby cafe. I have killed a man, said I...

This is the version my brothers and I learned from our grandfather and aunt. I have googled every part of it to try and find the origin, and I had never heard those other versions before. Sounds like an oral tradition.

We met outside the gates of ParisI being the better man quickly overcame my adversaryI went into a church to pray and in the aisle I met a man.What is the matter said the man.I've killed a manKilled a man?Killed a man.What is the man's name?ZanzibarZanzibar? ZanzibarSir, he said, you have killed my brother and so we must fight a duelWe met outside the gates of Paris...

My father taught me this version. I believe it is as close to the original authentic version as is possible, seeing that my father was born in 1915, learned it as a boy, and retold it word-for-word without variation countless times. I memorized it like it was my own name. I am sure every word is exactly as my father taught me (particularly emphasized syllables are capitalized - there was a definite rhythm to the entire passage):

I met my man outside the gates of Paris, and I being the better man quickly vanquished him. Stepping into a nearby inn for prayers and contemplation, I met a man speaking about deuling.

It was a dark and stormy night, outside the gates of Paris.I, being the challenged partner, chose my rusty trusty pistol.I fired. He fell into a ditch, dead.As I walked into a nearby cafe, I saw a tall, dark, distinguished looking gentleman."I killed a man" said I."Killed a man?" said he?"Killed a man" said I."What was his name?" said he."Zanzibar" said I."Zanzibar?" said he?"Zanzibar" said I."You killed my brother - we must meet"It was a dark and stormy night outside the gates of Paris....

At age 13 at Camp Rockmont, NC I heard the following version done as a round, like "Row, row, row your boat", by three counselors wearing hoods and carrying candles in the darkened dining hall:It was a dark and stormy night outside the gates of Paris.A shot rang outA man lay deadAnd there I stood with my trusty, rusty pistol.As I wandered through the streets of Paris I met a man.Your name, said I?My name, said he?Yes, your name.My name, said he, is Z A N, Zan, Z I, Zi, B A R, Bar, Zanzibar.Did you say Z A N, Zan, Z I, Zi, B A R, Bar, Zanzibar?Yes, said he, Z A N, Zan, Z I, Zi, B A R, Bar, Zanzibar.Then, said I, I have killed your brother.Then, said he, we must meet...

The last counselor completed his last round, alone, after the first, and then the second had completed their rounds and departed the floor. Then there was silence...

Slowly I turned. Step by step, inch by inch, I approached my opponent.Suddenly, I raised my trusty, rusty rifle and fired.My opponent fell into the arms of his second.Shaken, I strode into a nearby bar and said, "I have just killed a man."[use different voice:] "Killed a man -- why, what was his name?"[narrator] "Zanzibar"[second person] "Zanzibar! Why, he was my brother! We shall meet tonight!"[narrator:]Slowly I turned.....

Hey I know a slightly different version too! Here it is:We met before the gates of Paris. I being the better man, quickly overcame my adversary. I repaired to a cafe for rest. There I met a man and said, "I have killed a man.""What?!? You have killed a man??""Yes, I have killed a man.""Well what was his name?""Zanzibar!""No! Not Zanzibar!""Yes, Zanzibar.""How do you spell it?""Z-a-n-z-i-b-a-r.""No! Not Z-a-n-z-i-b-a-r!""Yes, Z-a-n-z-i-b-a-r!""Then you have killed my brother and we must fight!"So we met before the gates of Paris...

we must find out where this comes from......... my father's version (he was born in 1910):

i went into a bar and said i killed a mankilled a man? yes killed a man.what was his name?zanzibarhow do you spell it?z-a-n-z-i-b-a-rhe was my brother - we must fightwe went outside the gates of paris and ibeing the better man easily overcame my adversary

It was a dark and stormy night outside the gates of Paris. There I met a tall dark stranger.Killed a man said IKilled a man said he.Killed a man said IHis name said heZanzibar, said IZanzibar said heZanzibar said I.My brother said heYour brother said IA duel said he...It was a dark and stormy night outside the gates of Paris.There I met a tall dark sranger ETC

My father used to recite this version:It was a dark and stormy night outside the gates of ParisI shot, Bang!He fell into the arms of his secondFrom there I went to a wayside tavernWhere I met a tall dark stranger"I shot a man" said I"What was his name" said he?"Zanzibar" Said I"You shot my brother! We shall meet"It was a dark and stormy night outside the gates of Paris.....(repeats)

About Me

My friends say that I know at least something about practically everything; my enemies, that I know far too much about far too much. Here's the raw material for believing in both views.
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